‘Pseudopelade of Brocq’ is still a mystery. Researchers are still working on the cure for this disease. Though it does not affect the whole family, still its patches increase in size and number if ignored. It is an unusual form of permanent hair loss from the scalp. The reasons are still unknown. Normally, it is misunderstood as ‘Alopecia Areata’ and people think that it can be cured. Pseudopelade of Brocq is not an inflammatory form of alopecia and the hair loss seems to be due to atrophy of the hair follicles rather than scarring.
Features of Pseudopelade of Brocq
Pseudopelade of Brocq is often found as small patches of baldness like Alopecia Areata. The loss begins from the vertex, i.e the highest point on the scalp. The disease has some typical features which guide in the diagnosis at an early stage:-:
– Single or multiple
– Smooth
– Soft
– Slightly depressed
– Round or oval
– May merge to become larger and irregular in shape
– Asymptomatic
– Not scaly
– Skin-coloured
– May see pale red/pink around individual hairs initially
– Hairs may be easily pulled from the edges if active
– The bald areas have been described as looking like ‘footprints in the snow’.
Treatment of pseudopelade of Brocq
The disease spreads on the scalp and rarely seen in the beard area. as far as the cure is concerned it is still under process. The doctors and dermatologists are researching to find a stable cure for the disease to stop the permanent hair loss.
